NICKNAME/S: Mahervellous

BIO: Brett Maher was born in Adelaide (SA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Sturt basketball program where was spotted playing for the Sturt Sabres in the Australian Basketball Association. His outstanding form soon saw him earn a contract with the Adelaide 36ers. Maher received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1989. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (1989, 1990, 1991).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Brett Maher made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 18 years of age. He scored 11 points in his first game.

Local favourite and former captain Darryl Pearce (to North Melbourne) left Adelaide following the 1991 semifinal run, while head coach Don Shipway retained captain Mark Davis, import point guard Butch Hays, Mark Bradtke, Mike McKay, Graham Kubank and Mick Corkeron.

Shipway added 18-year-old Brett Maher (via AIS), Jerry Dennard and 18-year-old Paul Rogers, while Adelaide left Apollo Stadium and moved into the new 8,000-seat Clipsal Powerhouse at Findon, where the club sold 6,000 memberships on opening day and every home game was played before a sell-out crowd.

Adelaide opened the Powerhouse on April 4 with a 106-84 victory over North Melbourne, where Brett (11 points) came off the bench and made an immediate impact in his NBL debut.

Maher (6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 23 games) averaged almost 26 minutes per game and provided Adelaide with another ball-handler in the backcourt during his rookie season.

The opening victory was followed by seven consecutive losses, with Maher (11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) producing his best performance of the slide as Adelaide fell 116-102 to South East Melbourne at the Powerhouse on May 16.

Shipway was also suspended for four games, reduced to two on appeal, after slapping a spectator during a timeout in Adelaide’s road loss to Hobart.

Maher (12 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, and 1 steal) delivered another strong performance on May 29, although Brisbane escaped the Powerhouse with a 100-98 victory.

His next major performance came on June 27, when Maher (13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) made five of ten shots and his only three-point attempt as Gold Coast edged Adelaide 92-91 at Carrara Stadium.

Bradtke (20.1 points, 14.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks across 17 games) had become the competition’s leading rebounder and established himself as the NBL’s best local big man before the league stopped for the Barcelona Olympics.

In his final Adelaide appearance on July 17, Bradtke (43 points and 25 rebounds) produced career highs against Geelong at the Powerhouse.

After Bradtke and McKay (18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) represented Australia at the Olympics, Bradtke (to Juver Murcia) accepted a deal reportedly worth $200,000 to finish the year in Spain, leaving Adelaide without its starting centre for the remainder of the season.

Davis (23.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) again led Adelaide in scoring and rebounding, while Hays (21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.2 steals) directed the offence and carried much of the backcourt workload.

Kubank (8.6 points and 1.2 steals) and Dennard (5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds) provided the next level of support, while the teenage Rogers appeared in five games during his rookie season.

Davis won Adelaide’s club MVP award and claimed a record fifth Woollacott Medal, while also becoming an Australian citizen and completing his final NBL season classified as an import.

Without Bradtke, the 36ers were unable to replace his production inside and remained outside the playoff positions entering their final game.

Adelaide closed the season at Geelong on September 12, where Maher (18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) delivered his best game of the year alongside McKay (33 points), Hays (27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Davis (25 points, 22 rebounds, and 3 assists), while Bobby Locke (32 points) led the Supercats as the 36ers won 115-99 and finished ninth with an 11-13 record.

1993
Following two consecutive losing seasons, Adelaide replaced head coach Don Shipway with American Don Monson and lost Mark Bradtke (to Melbourne), Butch Hays (to Illawarra) and Graham Kubank (to Townsville), while captain Mark Davis, Mike McKay, Brett Maher and Jerry Dennard returned to the Clipsal Powerhouse.

Monson added Boomers captain Phil Smyth (via Canberra), Willie Simmons (via Canberra), Scott Ninnis (via South East Melbourne), Chris Blakemore (via AIS) and import Paris McCurdy as the 36ers attempted to return to the playoffs.

Adelaide opened the season on April 18 with a 118-105 road win over North Melbourne, where Brett (3 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal) came off the bench while Scott (36 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists), Phil (24 points and 7 assists), Paris (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Mike (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the 36ers, while Jason Reese (39 points and 18 rebounds), Paul Maley (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) and former Adelaide captain Darryl Pearce (20 points, 4 assists, and 6 three-pointers) were best for the Giants.

Maher (8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 26 games) established himself as a regular member of Adelaide’s backcourt during his second season, increasing his playing time to more than 22 minutes per game.

After nine games, McCurdy (12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals) was released and replaced by David Robinson, giving Adelaide another scoring and rebounding option in the frontcourt.

Davis (22.8 points and 12.9 rebounds) led Adelaide in scoring and finished as the NBL’s leading rebounder, while Ninnis (19.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals) became the team’s main perimeter scorer after returning from two seasons in Melbourne.

Robinson (18.3 points and 8.9 rebounds), McKay (13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals), Smyth (10.8 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) and Blakemore (5.7 points and 4.9 rebounds) rounded out the main rotation.

On May 16, Maher (12 points and 3 assists) provided one of Adelaide’s few bright spots during a 121-88 road loss to Canberra, delivering his highest-scoring game over the opening month of the season.

Maher (11 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) made five of eight shots against Townsville on June 25, but the Suns came from behind to defeat Adelaide 105-103 at the Powerhouse.

His best game came on July 4 during the highly anticipated return of the former Adelaide centre, with Maher (19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) leading the 36ers’ offensive revival before half-time as Adelaide defeated Melbourne 109-94 in front of a hostile sell-out crowd.

Mark (26 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists), David (21 points) and Scott (19 points) also played key roles in the victory, while Andrew Gaze (22 points) led the Tigers as Adelaide pulled away behind its defence during the fourth quarter.

Ninnis was named the NBL’s Most Improved Player after producing the best season of his career, while Blakemore won Rookie of the Year honours during his first season with the 36ers.

Adelaide closed the regular season on September 18 with an 86-84 loss to South East Melbourne, where Maher (6 points and 4 rebounds) contributed from the bench as the 36ers finished seventh with a 14-12 record and returned to the playoffs.

The quarterfinal series opened at the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Maher (8 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists), Davis (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists), Robinson (21 points and 6 rebounds) and McKay (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Adelaide, while Tony Ronaldson (30 points and 6 rebounds), Robert Rose (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Bruce Bolden (18 points and 9 rebounds) carried the defending champion Magic to a 99-93 win.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Maher (8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Davis (28 points and 17 rebounds) and Robinson (20 points and 9 rebounds) could not prevent the Magic completing the sweep, with Ronaldson (23 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Bolden (21 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) leading South East Melbourne to a 102-87 win.

1994
David Robinson and Jerry Dennard were not retained after Adelaide’s quarterfinal exit, while Don Monson left the coaching role after one season, leaving captain Mark Davis, Scott Ninnis, Mike McKay, Phil Smyth, Brett Maher, Chris Blakemore and Willie Simmons as the main returning players.

New coach Mike Dunlap strengthened the undersized roster with reigning NBL MVP Robert Rose (via South East Melbourne) and 6’8″ forward Andrew Svaldenis (via Hobart) as Adelaide chased its first Grand Final appearance since 1986.

Adelaide opened the season at Carrara on April 8, where Brett (3 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) contributed from the starting lineup and Robert (26 points) led the scoring, but Gold Coast held on for a 95-92 win.

Maher (13.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals across 33 games) established himself as a full-time starter during his third NBL season, playing 33.7 minutes each game while shooting 46.2 per cent from the field, 46.7 per cent from three-point range and 83.3 per cent at the free throw line.

His best game came the following night in Newcastle, where Maher (19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) made 7-of-13 shots and four three-pointers, while Robert (28 points) and Scott (17 points) also contributed as Adelaide edged the Falcons 95-93, with Derek Rucker (22 points) and Terry Dozier (19 points) leading Newcastle.

Maher (13 points and 7 rebounds) provided support for Mark (30 points and 11 rebounds) and Robert (26 points and 5 rebounds) during a 110-74 home win over Wollongong on June 24, while former 36er Butch Hays (21 points) was the Hawks’ best.

On August 27, Maher (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal) made two three-pointers and all four of his free throws as Adelaide defeated Sydney 96-83 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with Mark (24 points, 18 rebounds, and 6 assists), Robert (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Chris (17 points and 8 rebounds) also contributing, while Leon Trimmingham (31 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Mario Donaldson (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Kings.

Maher (13 points and 3 steals) helped Adelaide defeat Gold Coast 102-90 on September 16, with Mark (40 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Chris (15 points and 9 rebounds) leading the 36ers, while Matthew Reece (22 points) and Tony De Ambrosis (22 points) were the Rollers’ best.

Adelaide closed the regular season on September 24, where Maher (19 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) equalled his season-high scoring performance as Robert (26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 steals), Chris (22 points and 12 rebounds) and Mark (19 points, 21 rebounds, and 5 steals) led the 36ers to a 107-76 win over Canberra, while Jason Reese (16 points and 19 rebounds) and Justin Withers (14 points and 16 rebounds) were the Cannons’ best.

The victory left Adelaide fourth with an 18-8 record after finishing level with South East Melbourne but falling behind the Magic on percentage.

Rose (22.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.6 steals across 29 games) became Adelaide’s leading scorer, while Davis (20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 32 games) finished second in the NBL in rebounding and led the league in offensive rebounds.

Blakemore (13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds across 33 games) produced a breakout season, while Ninnis (12.6 points and 1.4 steals across 33 games), McKay (8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds across 31 games), Smyth (6.6 points and 1.2 steals across 33 games) and Svaldenis (4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 32 games) rounded out Adelaide’s main rotation.

Rose won Adelaide’s club MVP award, ending Davis’ run of winning the honour every year from 1985 through 1993, although Rose was surprisingly overlooked for the NBL All-Star Game.

Blakemore was named the NBL’s Most Improved Player after increasing his production from 6 points in 19 minutes per game to 13 points in 33 minutes, while Davis and Rose were selected to the All-NBL Second Team.

Adelaide also received a record fine for alleged salary-cap breaches, but the off-court setback did not prevent the 36ers entering the playoffs as one of the league’s strongest teams.

The quarterfinals opened in Brisbane, where Rose (34 points) helped Adelaide build a 99-92 lead inside the final two minutes, but Shane Heal (42 points) hit the three-pointer which forced overtime and Leroy Loggins (30 points) helped the Bullets recover for a 116-105 win.

Game two moved to the Powerhouse, where Maher (7 points and 5 rebounds) contributed as Davis (37 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Rose (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Adelaide, while Loggins (29 points and 9 rebounds) and Andre Moore (17 points and 13 rebounds) were Brisbane’s best before the 36ers levelled the series with a 99-91 win.

Maher (17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) delivered at both ends in the deciding game, applying constant defensive pressure to Heal while Davis (26 points and 18 rebounds), Rose (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Smyth (12 points) led Adelaide, with Heal (20 points and 6 rebounds), David Colbert (18 points) and Loggins (15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals) leading Brisbane as the 36ers won 101-84.

The semifinals opened at the Powerhouse, where Maher (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals), Rose (18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) and McKay (17 points) led Adelaide, while Andrew Gaze (30 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Lanard Copeland (24 points and 7 rebounds) and Mark Bradtke (19 points and 16 rebounds) were Melbourne’s best in a 101-88 win for the 36ers.

The victory came at a major cost when Davis (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) grabbed a defensive rebound during the third period and dislocated his right shoulder after Dave Simmons attempted to swat away his long outlet pass but collected his arm instead.

Game two moved to Melbourne without Davis, where Maher (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals), Rose (21 points and 7 rebounds), Blakemore (19 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals), Smyth (17 points and 3 steals) and Svaldenis (16 points and 12 rebounds) led Adelaide, while Gaze (25 points and 10 assists), Copeland (25 points) and Simmons (18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists) were strongest for Melbourne as the 36ers won 110-101 and completed the sweep.

The Grand Final opened at the Powerhouse, where Davis returned following intense physiotherapy and Maher (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Adelaide recover from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, while Rose (33 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals) carried the offence as the 36ers forced overtime after tying the game at 84-84.

Paul Maley (25 points and 12 rebounds), Darryl McDonald (17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) and Paul Rees (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led North Melbourne, with McDonald hitting the winning shot as the Giants claimed game one 95-93.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Maher (15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) made three three-pointers and Rose (31 points and 7 rebounds) again led Adelaide, while Davis (4 rebounds and 1 steal) was held scoreless in 16 minutes due to his injured shoulder.

Maley (21 points and 10 rebounds), Rees (20 points and 7 rebounds on 7-of-7 shooting) and McDonald (11 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals) led North Melbourne to a 117-97 win, with Rees named Grand Final MVP as the Giants completed the 2-0 sweep.

1995
Phil Smyth (to Sydney) left Adelaide following the 1994 Grand Final, with Mike Dunlap entering his second season as coach and retaining Mark Davis, Robert Rose, Chris Blakemore, Brett Wheeler, Mike McKay and Scott Ninnis while continuing to build around the club’s younger guards.

Adelaide opened the season at the Clipsal Powerhouse on April 22, where Brett Maher (2 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) contributed across the floor despite a difficult shooting night, while Tonny Jensen (27 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) and Michael Johnson (26 points) led Newcastle to a 98-91 win.

Maher (14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.2 steals) appeared in all 31 games and increased his scoring for the fourth straight season, establishing himself as one of Adelaide’s primary backcourt contributors.

Rose (26.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.5 steals) led the 36ers in scoring and earned All-NBL Team honours, while Davis (17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals) controlled the glass and was selected to the NBL All-Star Game for the eighth straight season.

Blakemore (10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds), Wheeler (8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds), McKay (7.1 points) and Ninnis (5.6 points) provided the remainder of Dunlap’s main rotation.

With Davis able to occupy a local roster position, Dunlap used Adelaide’s second import spot on former Chicago Bulls guard Jo Jo English (via Chicago), who joined the team during the season.

English (14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals) added another scorer to the backcourt and gave Adelaide greater depth as the season progressed.

Before the NBL season, Maher, Davis, Wheeler and Blakemore also made their Boomers debuts against the touring Magic Johnson All-Stars in March.

Maher (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) played a leading role in Adelaide’s 110-89 road victory over Illawarra on September 2, helping the 36ers continue their strong finish to the regular season.

His best performance of the year followed one week later in Townsville, where Maher (27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) shot 10-of-14 from the field and 5-of-6 from three as Adelaide defeated the Suns 118-105.

Rose (30 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals) and Davis (27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks) also starred in the win, while Cameron Dickinson (27 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals), Clarence Tyson (26 points and 15 rebounds) and Derek Rucker (18 points and 11 assists) led Townsville.

Adelaide completed the regular season against Illawarra on September 15, where Maher (22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) helped the 36ers win 84-74 for their ninth straight victory, with Rose (21 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals) and Davis (17 points and 20 rebounds) in support, while Melvin Thomas (23 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) and Chuck Harmison (18 points and 8 rebounds) were best for the Hawks.

The result completed Adelaide’s 17-9 regular season and secured fourth place on the ladder.

Away from the NBL, Maher (25 points and 22 rebounds) led Sturt into the South Australian state league Grand Final, where the Sabres lost 89-84 to South Adelaide and he became the first man in SA basketball history to win Grand Final MVP while playing for the losing team.

Adelaide opened the quarterfinals in Newcastle, where Jensen (35 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks), Butch Hays (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Reggie Smith (14 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocks) led the Falcons to a 101-93 win.

Maher (13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals) applied pressure in the backcourt, while Rose (23 points), English (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals), Blakemore (16 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Davis (11 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Adelaide’s other main contributors.

Game two moved to the Clipsal Powerhouse, where Rose (46 points and 5 rebounds) carried Adelaide to a 94-84 victory, with Maher (16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Davis (13 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals) in support, while Jensen (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Hays (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Newcastle.

Adelaide completed the series comeback two nights later, defeating Newcastle 99-92 behind Rose (28 points), Davis (20 points), English (18 points), Blakemore (13 points) and Maher (11 points), while Jensen (21 points), Hays (18 points) and Smith (17 points) were best for the Falcons.

The semifinals began in Adelaide, where Rose (27 points and 7 rebounds), Davis (13 points and 12 rebounds), Ninnis (12 points) and Maher (9 points and 4 assists) led the 36ers, while Scott Fisher (27 points and 7 rebounds), Martin Cattalini (16 points and 9 rebounds) and Ricky Grace (16 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 blocks) carried Perth to a 94-78 victory.

The game received national attention after Blakemore (4 points) elbowed the Perth forward, leaving him with a cut to his mouth that required 15 stitches, almost starting a brawl and earning Blakemore a suspension for game two.

Rose requested a pay rise following the season, but Adelaide rejected it amid a belief that the 31-year-old had already played his best basketball, leading to Rose (to Canberra), McKay (to Brisbane) and Blakemore (to Canberra) leaving the club, with Blakemore’s departure also following an end-of-season altercation with Dunlap over the Cattalini incident.

Game two moved to Perth, where Fisher (26 points and 9 rebounds) again led the Wildcats, while Rose (22 points) and English (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Adelaide’s best in an 85-76 loss that ended the 36ers’ season against Perth for the fourth time in eight years (1987, 1989, 1991 and 1995).

1996
After Adelaide’s 1995 season ended against Perth in the semifinals, a series remembered for Chris Blakemore’s vicious elbow to the head of Wildcats forward Martin Cattalini, coach Mike Dunlap had fallen out with both Blakemore (to Canberra) and club MVP Robert Rose (to Canberra). Long-distance specialist Mike McKay also found Dunlap difficult to play for and left Adelaide to join the Brisbane Bullets.

Despite losing three important members of the previous year’s rotation, Adelaide recruited strongly for the 1996 season. Slam-dunking forward Leon Trimmingham (via Sydney) joined the 36ers, along with Cattalini (via Perth), who had been on the receiving end of Blakemore’s elbow during the previous postseason. Reigning Rookie of the Year John Rillie (via Brisbane) was also added to play alongside Brett Maher in the backcourt, while new import Rick Brunson arrived after narrowly missing selection in the NBA Draft. Mark Davis, Brett Wheeler and Scott Ninnis were among the other key players returning for Dunlap’s third season as coach.

Adelaide opened the season at the Clipsal Powerhouse on April 14, where the young guard (8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals) pressured Townsville’s backcourt, while Trimmingham (26 points) and Brunson (25 points) led the scoring in a 117-77 victory.

Maher (15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals) appeared in all 31 games, finished third on the team in scoring and earned his first NBL All-Star selection as his role in Adelaide’s backcourt continued to grow.

Brunson (21.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals) led the 36ers in scoring and won club MVP honours, while Trimmingham (19.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals) provided Adelaide with its leading interior scorer and rebounder.

Rillie (13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), Davis (12.7 points and 8.2 rebounds), Wheeler (9.0 points and 6.6 rebounds) and Cattalini (8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds) completed Dunlap’s main rotation.

Maher was also selected for the Australian Boomers at the Atlanta Olympics during the NBL season, helping Australia finish fourth after losing the bronze medal game to Lithuania.

On May 17, Maher (23 points) led Adelaide’s scoring and established his season-high at that point, although Canberra defeated the 36ers 118-86 at the AIS Arena.

After returning from the Olympics, Maher (30 points and 7 rebounds) carried Adelaide’s offence in a 93-88 home win over Sydney on August 30, with Rillie (19 points) and Brunson (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists) in support, while Bruce Bolden (29 points) and Brad Williams (16 points) led the Kings.

Maher (37 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) produced his best performance of the season against Brisbane on September 14, shooting 13-of-15 from the field and 11-of-12 from three as Adelaide won 105-98, matching the club record for three-pointers made in a game.

Brunson (24 points and 9 assists), Trimmingham (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Rillie (15 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) supported him, while Leroy Loggins (34 points and 2 blocks), Steve Woodberry (27 points) and Mike Mitchell (13 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 steals) led Brisbane.

Adelaide completed the regular season in sixth place with a 16-10 record and returned to the playoffs for the third consecutive year under Dunlap.

The campaign proved Dunlap’s last with Adelaide after the sudden death of his father led him back to the United States, while the club board retained Davis after the coach requested the veteran be released to create more opportunities for the team’s younger players.

Adelaide opened the quarterfinals at home on October 4, where Brunson (27 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) controlled the backcourt and Maher (8 points and 3 rebounds) contributed as the 36ers defeated Perth 103-93.

Game two moved to the Perth Entertainment Centre, where James Crawford (23 points and 12 rebounds), Ricky Grace (21 points and 6 rebounds), Todd Lichti (20 points and 5 rebounds) and Anthony Stewart (15 points) led the Wildcats to a 115-92 win, while Brunson (27 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Trimmingham (12 points and 6 rebounds) and Maher (8 points and 5 rebounds) were best for Adelaide.

Two nights later, Adelaide won the deciding game 114-104 in Perth behind Brunson (21 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Maher (21 points), eliminating the Wildcats and advancing to the semifinals.

Adelaide returned home for game one against South East Melbourne, where Trimmingham (23 points and 9 rebounds), Brunson (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Maher (14 points) kept the 36ers within one possession, while Tony Ronaldson (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Magic to an 87-86 win.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Sam MacKinnon (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Chris Anstey (14 points and 6 rebounds) led the eventual champions, while Brunson (17 points and 5 assists), Trimmingham (10 points) and Maher (9 points and 3 rebounds) were Adelaide’s main scorers in a 112-81 loss.

1997
Having just shown head coach Mike Dunlap the door, the 36ers hired his assistant and former Gold Coast Rollers coach Dave Claxton as his replacement for the 1997 NBL season. While Adelaide was able to retain the majority of its roster this season, the only changes being the addition of Rupert Sapwell (Geelong) and replacing import guard Rick Brunson, who returned to the US, with ibig man Jeff Brown. Perhaps the biggest change to the roster wasn’t during free agency, but when Brett Maher was handed the team captaincy from club legend Mark Davis (something he would hold until his retirement in 2009).

Brett Maher, who early in his career was stuck at the end of a very stacked 36ers bench behind legendary guards like Butch Hays, Mick McKay and Phil Smyth had a breakout season in 1997. Maher delivered 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5 assists per game while being ranked in the top five players in the league for three point percentage and free throw percentage. While Brown had been signed to pair with 36ers leading scorer Leon Trimmingham and Mark Davis it became apparent six games that he wasn’t the player the 36ers needed and he was quickly replaced with 35 year old, former 36ers big man Willie Simmons who hadn’t played in the NBL since 1994. Needless to say Adelaide struggled through the remaining games and finished in 7th place (with a 14–16 record) and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

1998
At the end of 1997 the 36ers replaced head coach Dave Claxton, who was only signed by the club at the last moment due to unexpectedly losing Mike Dunlap, was only signed for one season and following the 1997 season was replaced by rookie coach and former player Phil Smyth. Smyth had been hired without any head coaching experience, in fact, his only previous coaching experience being a specialist coach at the Australian Institute of Sport during his playing days in Canberra.

During the off-season local product Brett Maher engaged in serious talks with the Sydney Kings and almost moved to the nation’s capital to form a all-Australian backcourt with Aaron Trahair. Ultimately, he decided to re-sign with the Adelaide 36ers, who then recruited 205 cm centre Paul Rees (via North Melbourne). After former Denver Nuggets Darnell Mee (who previously played with Canberra) signed on to play for the team, he recommended his former teammate Kevin Brooks to the 36ers and they signed the former NBA forward to a two-year deal. After his first training session with the team, Brooks’ teammates thought he wouldn’t last a week in the NBL with a shooting style that saw him release the ball almost from behind his head. However, they soon found Brooks (19.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists) was for real as he went on to lead the team in points per game with Brett Maher (17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) and Mee (14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists) providing the additional scoring punch.

The 36ers gamble on Smyth’s playing experience translating into coaching success also paid off, with Adelaide recording the most wins since 1988 and finished in second place (19–11).

Brett Maher’s first game as Adelaide’s captain in a playoff series concluded with the 36ers delivering a emphatic 114-97 punch to Perth’s play-off chin, setting up a 2-0 semifinal knock-out. The 36ers seized a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three Semi Final series behind a sensational 36-point career-high game by Maher, who also led the Sixers with six assists (shooting 74 percent, including 7-of-11 three-pointers). Darnell Mee was his usual effective self, adding a game-high 14 rebounds to his 16 points as he terrorised Perth’s backcourt and set a aggressive defensive tone from the outset. Adelaide would defeat Perth just as easily as it had in game one, winning 117–110 to set up a Grand Final matchup against the South East Melbourne Magic.

Adelaide was not expected to defeat the Brian Goorjian led Magic, who had compiled a 26-4 record during the regular season and then swept the Brisbane Bullets in the semifinals. In game one, Brooks finished game high scorer with 24 points (10/18 shooting) and 8 rebounds as the 36ers stunned all, delivering a 100-93 defeat to the defending champs on their home court. Amazingly, game one of the Grand Final was only the second time the 36ers had defeated the Magic since the Eastside Melbourne Spectres and Southern Melbourne Saints had merged to form the Magic in 1992.

The 36ers, who had started the season off slowly, had really found their form by the time of the Grand Final series and come game two, obliterated the Magic at home (90-62). Adelaide held the Magic to less than 15 points in three of the game’s quarters. Brooks (21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks) and Martin Cattalini (20 points and 6 rebounds) were brilliant for the 36ers in a game decided by turnovers and free throws, with South East Melbourne finishing with 26 turnovers and 6 of 8 from the free throw line to Adelaide’s 14 turnovers and 25 of 33 from the stripe.

Adelaide collected their first NBL championship since 1986 and Kevin Brooks was named Grand Final MVP in what was the last winter season for the National Basketball League.

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1998/99
The NBL’s move to summer didn’t stop the defending champions, Adelaide, as they finished the 1998-99 regular season with their first minor premiership since 1988 with a 18–8 record. Adelaide was able to return with almost their entire championship team from 1998, the only key change being John Rillie, who left for more playing opportunities in West Sydney. The team replaced Rillie with David Stiff, who was able to pair with Mark Davis as the team’s ‘two-headed’ centre.

Captain Brett Maher (19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals) led the team in most categories, alongside high scoring forward Martin Cattalini (14.9 points and 7.0 rebounds) and import duo Kevin Brooks (17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds) and Darnell Mee (14.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals), who both elevated their games in the second season.

The 36ers made their way into the grand final undefeated in the postseason, eliminating Perth in the Qualifying Finals and Wollongong in the semifinals, both in two straight games. Once into the Grand Final, Adelaide faced off against the Victoria Titans, a team comprised mostly from the roster of the South East Melbourne Magic roster whom they defeated in the previous year’s grand final.

The opening matchup delivered a battle of the point guards with McDonald (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals) and 36ers import Darnell Mee (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks) led both team’s in scoring. Mee was able to come out on top in this one, with Adelaide winning the game (104-94) and Mee also forcing McDonald into making 8 turnovers.

The Titans would even the series in game two, winning 88-82. Brett Maher led Adelaide with 25 points, but the Titans’ defence saw the remainder of the 36ers struggle, with no one else able to score more than 12 points and the team shooting 39% from the field. Tony Ronaldson (22 points), Brett Wheeler (18 points, 9 rebounds) and McDonald (12 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists) doing most of the damage for the Titans.

With the 36ers finishing in first place during the regular season the deciding game would be held in Adelaide where more than 7,000 Sixers fans willed the team over the line to become back-to-back NBL champions. Martin Cattalini (19 points and 9 rebounds) led the 36ers in scoring while Brett Maher (15 points and 7 rebounds) was named Grand Final MVP. Ben Pepper (15 points) top scored for the Titans who shot a woeful 26/78 from the field (38%) in the deciding game.

Adelaide became three-time NBL champions and the first team to win back-to-back titles since Perth in 1990 and 1991. Captain Brett Maher was voted the Grand Final MVP, and coach Phil Smyth claimed his second championship win in just two years of coaching in the NBL.

1999/00
Coming off winning back-to-back championships, Adelaide seemed primed for a NBL dynasty and bolstered their roster by signing Paul Maley. Maley, who had contemplated retiring after his experience with the Victoria Titans, was thought to be everything the team needed to achieve a three-peat, but then, economic factors impacted the 36ers’ season in a way no one could have predicted.

The NBL wasn’t in as good a financial shape as the 36ers, and in a cost-cutting move aimed at assisting struggling NBL clubs, the league reduced the league salary cup from $70,000 to $625,000. This reduction in cap resulted in the team being unable to re-sign star Kevin Brooks for the same money without breaching the cap, considering it also had added Maley only a few weeks earlier. Although the league applied for consideration on this, it was denied, and Brooks was forced to make a move to Sydney to play with the Kings.

Days later, high-scoring forward Martin Cattalini agreed to play in France for ASVEL Villeranne, which would have been ‘double whammy’, but prior to the season tipping off, he backflipped and re-signed with Adelaide in the hopes that a big year would result in being selected for the 2000 Olympics to be held in Sydney.

The season kicked off the season with a 109–89 win over Perth at home, with the 36ers fielding a starting lineup of leading scorer Martin Cattalini (20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists), team captain Brett Maher (20.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists), Darnell Mee (13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks) who filled almost every category on the stat sheet and veterans Paul Rees (7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists) and Paul Maley (12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists).

As a result of winning the 1999 NBL championship, the 36ers were again invited to participate in the McDonald’s Cup, held at the 12,000 seat Fila Forum in Milan, Italy which was scheduled during the first month of the regular season. After losing their first game 90–79 to Brazilian side CR Vasco da Gama (who went all the way to meet the San Antonio Spurs in the final), the team won the 5–6 place playoff 91–84 over Lebanese team Hekmeh BC.

After returning to Australia, Adelaide never skipped a beat. They won three straight games before heading to Townsville, a game where Maher nailed five from five threes, scored 15 points in the first quarter, and finished with a career-high 40 points as Adelaide lost its first game of the season in overtime.

Maley missed a number of games due to a recurring back injury which saw David Stiff enter the starting lineup, where he responded with a career-high 35-point game (70% from the field) in a 111-103 win over Wollongong.

On 6 February 2000, the 36ers participated in the league’s first ‘open air’ game where 10,318 fans gathered to see the Titans deliver a rare loss (83-75) at Melbourne Park.

Adelaide again finished in first place during the regular season (22–6). Due to finishing in the top two, both Adelaide and Townsville were given first-round byes. The elimination finals saw Perth defeat West Sydney on one side of the bracket, and Victoria knock out Melbourne on the other, resulting in the 36ers facing off against a Brian Goorjian led team for the third year in a row.

The Titans, who had discarded Paul Maley (12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game) to see him become a valuable bench contributor for Adelaide, entered the series as favourites. The Titans would win game one 101-86 in Melbourne, with Ronaldson leading the team with 26 points and 5 rebounds and MacDonald filling the box score with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks before the series moved to Adelaide for game two and three.

Game two saw the 36ers return to their high-scoring offence, which had proven unstoppable over the past two seasons. Martin Cattalini’s 24 points and 7 rebounds, combined with Darnell Mee’s all-around brilliance, collecting 22 points,7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals, the 36ers evened the series with a 95-72 win.

With many pencilling in another Titans elimination from the 36ers, the team rallied behind MacDonald, who again impacted the game from every angle, finishing with 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. His counterpart Darnell Mee seemed equally up to the task and finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, but the remaining 36ers squad struggled to score through the impenetrable Titans defence, and with Victoria winning the decider 89-93 the Titans celebrated as though they’d shaken King Kong off their back.

It was a year of upsets with Townsville being eliminated by Perth in the other semi final bracket in three games. Not surprisingly, Victoria had nothing left for Perth in the Grand Final and lost in two straight games

Following the 1999/00 season, Brett Maher and Martin Cattalini were both selected to represent the Australian Boomers at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.